How To Pass The Hubspot Inbound Certification In One Weekend

When I decided to go through the Hubspot Inbound Certification I made an ambitious plan to pass the test in one try, and in one weekend.

This does not need to be your plan.

Before you get started, it's important to remember that Hubspot designed this certification to teach you about current inbound marketing practices. The knowledge you gain from the classes will help you acquire valuable career-enhancing skills. The certification is great, but the content you get along the way is greater.

I did pass the Hubspot Inbound Certification, in one weekend, and with a score of 93. I also learned about the sales side of inbound marketing, important changes to SEO, and how to create a lead generating landing page.

What will you learn?

How To Prepare For The Training Videos

• Eliminate all distractions. I picked a quiet room in my house, and stuck to that spot every time I watched a video.
• I have a strong preference for tactile learning, so I printed the full study guide, and took notes during the classes.
• Tackle the videos by sections. The classes follow a progression of thoughts, and lessons, that need to be consumed as a whole to be fully understood.
• Do the tests at the end of each section! Repeat them until you get 100% correct.
• Watch the video again if you zoned out, or didn't understand something.
• Don't drink alcohol. That study session ended very quickly.

If you're trying to pass the test in one weekend: Calculate how much time you can devote to studying, and assign sections accordingly. The "Attract" section is 2 hours, whilst "Convert" is only 30 minutes. (If you're note-taking, and taking the section tests, they will be much longer.)

*Remember: You don't get extra points for completing the entire certification process in a day. Take the time you need to absorb the information, and pass the test.

How To Prepare For The Test

• Once you've completed all of the videos, re-take every test from the end of each section, until you have passed with 100% accuracy.
• Read the Hubspot Academy Inbound Marketing Certification FAQ
• Re-watch videos in sections where you feel least confident.
• Read through the study guide, and your notes. Put them in chronological order, and bring them into the test with you.

How To Take The Test

• Bring a working pen, connect your computer to power, bring water, and use the bathroom. Don't forget your notes!
• Pick a time, and place, where you can do the test distraction-free for 75 minutes. I sat in a quiet room, and locked the door.
• Flag questions that you're unsure about, so you can go back to them later, and review.
• Don't Google things if you don't know the answer. It will waste time, it won't help you, and in the long run you're only cheating yourself.
• Check the study guide & notes for the section if you get stuck. I found this helpful when trying to remember an exact acronym.
• I finished after 30 minutes. I used the rest of my time to review each, and every question. I changed some of my answers because I had not read the question properly. Don't be in a rush to finish the test as soon as you think you're done.

FAQ

Is the test difficult?

Yes, more than I expected because some of the questions are not straight forward. It's a multiple-choice test but sometimes all of the choices seem like the right answer. Read the question carefully, and remember what section you are answering before you choose.

Do I need to have a background in marketing to pass?

Without industry experience this test will be difficult but not impossible. You just have to listen carefully to the videos, and understand the concepts/purpose behind inbound marketing. Memorizing facts will only get you so far.

I failed. I don't have time to watch all of the videos again. What do I do?

I don't blame you. That's a lot of hours! At the end of the test Hubspot tells you how you performed in each section. If you did well in some, and not in others, just re-watch the videos where you did poorly. But when you go to study, re-take all the section tests, and review all of the notes. If you did poorly across the entire test, I'm sorry but you'll have to watch the videos over again.

Where can I learn more?

When I started getting nervous I looked for articles like this one to give me advice. Here's a few others that might help you:

How I passed my Hubspot Inbound Marketing Certification Exam

How To Prepare and Pass the Hubspot Inbound Certification Exam

Will You Pass The Inbound Certification Test? Take The Quiz!